| Family: |
Bathysauridae (Deepsea lizardfishes) |
| Max. size: |
64 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 600 - 3500 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: northern British Isles to Guinea; also off South Africa. Reported from Iceland (Ref. 12462). Western Atlantic: Davis Strait to Rio Grande Rise, Brazil. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and Australia (Ref. 7300). Southeast Pacific: Nazca and Sala-y-Gomez (Ref. 50546). Macristium chavesi (pelagic larvae) known from Dominican Republic, Bay of Biscay, Azores, and in the Indian Ocean. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-13. Body deepest ahead of dorsal fin. Head depressed and bony, mouth large, teeth conical, recurved and mostly depressible (Ref. 39983). Preserved specimens, dark ventrally (Ref. 11228). |
| Biology: |
Usually occurs below the 4°C isotherm. Rests stationary on the bottom with head slightly elevated in typical lizardfish fashion. Feeds primarily on fish and decapods (Ref. 4964). Synchronously hermaphroditic. Minimum depth reported from Ref. 5755. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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